If you stumbled upon this article, chances are you are looking for diamond jewelry to own or gift, or maybe curiosity brought you here. Be it an engagement ring, loose diamonds to give to your mother, or a pair of earrings for yourself, purchasing diamond jewelry is a big decision. Investing in a jewel as sought after as a diamond requires you to take a deep dive to make an informed decision. As a first time shopper, it is natural to come up with questions like "What are lab grown diamonds?" "Will a natural diamond be budget-friendly?" or "What is the difference between lab and natural diamonds?" Don't fret! You will find the answers in the hand-picked selection of the most exquisite diamonds in Diamondrensu's catalog.
As times change, trends change too. Gone are the days when people prioritized luxury over their bank accounts. Studies say shoppers have begun investing in products that offer them the whole package — quality, financial feasibility, and environmental friendliness. With the changing trends and times in mind, the focus is shifting from natural diamonds to diamonds produced in laboratories.
A lab grown diamond, also known as a synthetic, man made, or cultured diamond, is the new wave of diamonds taking the market by storm. Lab grown diamonds are manufactured under highly controlled temperatures and environments in laboratories. Using the latest technologies and tools, scientists expose tiny diamond seeds to processes replicating the earth's conditions during the formation of natural diamonds.
1 CT Radiant Cut Diamond Ring, Lab Created Diamond Engagement Ring
Lab Grown Diamonds Are Real Diamonds
It is time to debunk the widespread misconception and spread the truth: cultured diamonds are very much real diamonds. There is absolutely no difference between a lab grown diamond and an earth mined diamond barring one. Natural diamonds are made of carbon atoms that merged with them when they formed. Similarly, the chemical composition of a lab grown diamond is identical to a natural diamond in terms of chemical composition, materials, optical properties, fire, brilliance, and sparkle. The only difference between the two diamonds is the process of their formation. As the name suggests, natural diamonds form naturally from the earth's surface. On the other hand, lab created diamonds are made in laboratories.
As long as a diamond exhibits the properties assigned to it, it is a real diamond, regardless of its formation process. A lab created diamond contains the same carbon atoms found in natural diamonds, which are structured identically to a natural diamond's crystal structure. Moreover, a lab created diamond possesses the same qualities and values as an earth mined diamond, despite the latter's rarity. Be it a lab grown diamond's color, grading, composition, or certification, it stands as tall as a natural diamond, if not taller.
Alert: Get Huge Savings on Lab Grown Diamonds!
One of the main reasons people gravitate towards a lab grown diamond is its affordability. Investing in a diamond is a serious financial undertaking and a huge weight on wallets. With lab manufactured diamonds, you receive the same chemical and physical qualities as a natural diamond but with remarkable savings. Even though they are just like natural diamonds, a lab grown diamond's price varies per its customization and properties, and you can purchase the best man made diamond at a 30-40% more financially accessible rate than earth mined diamonds.
Cost plays an important role when shopping for engagement rings or wedding bands. Accommodating an expensive diamond ring amidst engagement preparations might take a toll on your budget, and a lab created diamond offers economic respite. Furthermore, unlike natural diamonds, you can purchase colored lab produced diamonds without breaking your bank, like a 1.03 CT Pear Blue Diamond Ring, or Pear Lab Grown Blue Diamond Engagement Ring.
Lab Grown Diamonds Remove Diamond Mining Costs
Natural diamonds are obtained from diamond mines around the world. There are only a handful of valuable diamond mines globally, and the mining process is economically heavy. Mining requires advanced equipment, machinery, and resources, which add a considerable percentage to a natural diamond's overall costs. Since a lab grown diamond does not involve a mining process and tools, the mining charges are not added to its price. Additionally, mining uses unethical and illegal labor practices to employ extra labor who work under unsafe conditions. Lab produced diamonds do not hire an illegal workforce.
Trends and Hype
Another reason earth mined diamonds are costlier is associated with the trends surrounding the availability and value of natural diamonds. Pitching a hyped-up consumer focused market strategy increases a diamond's demand and prices. On the other hand, since a lab created diamond is wrongly marketed as an 'alternative' to natural diamonds, its price is significantly lesser.
Mining to Market Pipeline
Earth mined diamonds are introduced into markets after a lengthy process involving multiple parties and vendors. Natural diamonds' mining to market process includes mining, cutting, polishing, manufacturing, and pitching to retailers who debut mined diamond jewelry in markets. A lab created diamond jewelry production process eliminates the additional costs of mining, cutting, and polishing since scientists create them in laboratories instead of acquiring rough diamonds.
Lab Grown Diamonds are Eco-Friendly
The diamond industry has undergone a massive transformation regarding the stone's environmental impacts. Even though the ecological ramifications of Earth mined diamonds had always raised eyebrows, the concerns solidified after the 2006 movie Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly, which showed the dark side of the diamond mining industry.
On the flip side, producing man made diamond jewelry is considered a sustainable and eco-friendly diamond production practice. Many factors contribute to a lab grown diamond's title as an ethically sourced stone.
Lab Created Diamonds Do Not Harm Mother Earth
Unlike Earth mined diamonds, synthetic diamonds do not require mining and digging out soil from the planet's surface. Instead of securing rough diamonds from mines, scientists manufacture lab diamonds in laboratories using advanced tools and technologies. Obtaining diamonds through mining has significant ecological consequences, as mining one-carat diamond harms around 250 tonnes of soil. On the other hand, a lab created diamond is produced safely, following safety regulations that do not harm the earth.
Pollution-Free Production
Since a lab grown diamond's creation happens inside regulated laboratories, the number of toxins and waste released are dealt with inside the laboratory. Diamond mining produces dirt and contaminants, which are disposed of in water or burnt, causing air and water pollution. However, laboratories either recycle or eliminate waste using environmentally conscious procedures.
Safe for Flora and Fauna
You can own and adorn lab created diamond jewelry with a clean conscience, knowing it was designed keeping in mind the safety of flora and fauna. Since mining requires digging the land and cutting down trees, it causes deforestation, destroys the natural homes of plants and animals, and harms them. Lab created diamond jewelry is produced without damaging biodiversity.
There is No Difference Between Earth Mined and Lab Grown Diamonds
When purchasing jewelry, people generally consider durability, sustainability, appearance, environmental effects, and cost. Unless one is curious about the production process of a diamond, it rarely comes up in conversations or as a deciding factor. Lab grown diamonds match natural diamonds in every department — hardness, color, clarity, and appearance.
Out of the three differences between natural and lab diamonds, two points — cost and environmental impact — tip the scale in favor of lab-manufactured diamonds, as they are more affordable and eco-friendly. The third and final difference between the two is their production process. A lab grown diamond is made in laboratories where earth mined diamonds come from the earth. However, even this point falls flat, considering the manufacturing process does not result in different diamond qualities. Despite their origin stories, natural and lab-produced diamonds have identical chemical and physical properties.
Hardness
Both earth mined and lab manufactured diamonds rank ten on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. Like natural diamonds, lab made diamonds contain carbon atoms that give them hardness and prevent them from breaking or scratching.
Sparkle
A lab grown diamond emits the same sparkle as an Earth mined diamond since it is created under the same conditions as a natural diamond, only in a different setting. If you want a diamond with exceptional brilliance and fire without badgering your wallet, a lab-created diamond is your answer.
Lab Grown Diamonds are Graded at the Same World-Renowned Labs that Certify Earth Mined Diamonds
Diamond grading is a measurement to determine a diamond's quality. Earth mined diamonds and lab-made diamonds follow the same grading process. Like natural diamond stones, lab grown diamonds' loose stones are graded according to their 4C formula: color, carat, cut, and clarity. Lab made diamonds are also certified and graded by world renowned laboratories, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI). IGI and GIA conduct a thorough check on lab grown loose diamonds to test their inclusions, clarity, and composition and create a report detailing the stone's qualities.
Rare Fancy Pink 3.04 CT Asscher Cut Lab Grown Diamond
Wrapping Up
Lab grown diamonds provide a natural diamond charm, beauty, and elegance but offer a more beneficial deal. Whether you are looking for a wedding band or loose diamond stones, a lab-grown diamond is an excellent choice if you want to adorn gorgeous diamond jewelry at a cost friendly rate. Wear your diamond earrings with pride, knowing you made an eco-friendly decision that gives you the same radiance as a mined diamond. Head over to Diamondrensu and grab the diamond earring you were eyeing!